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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. For the next couple of years why did Edith travel?

2. Much to Ronald's delight his childhood club survived graduation from King Edward's and continued its activities including what?

3. What was Ronald's group of friends and fellow students unofficially named?

4. In 1920, Ronald applied for a job at the University of Leeds as what?

5. In 1922, Tolkien was appointed to the position of Professorship of the English Language. What is unique about this position?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did G.B. Smith's words, "May you say the things I have tried to say long after I am not there to say them," do for Ronald?

2. What happens when Mabel and the boys return to England for a visit?

3. Why did Edith live away from Ronald for a period of time?

4. How does the Tolkien family end up in Leeds?

5. What does Ronald do without Edith in his life?

6. How do many people question Tolkien in regards to his mythology and devout Catholic faith? What is Tolkien's response?

7. How do both Mabel and Arthur feel about returning to England?

8. When does Mabel arrive in South Africa? What takes place at the time of their wedding?

9. Why is Arthur Tolkien in South Africa?

10. For how long has Mabel Suffield been engaged to Arthur Tolkien? Why could she not marry him earlier?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Tolkien had a love for languages.

Part 1) Describe this love for languages. When did it begin?

Part 2) What caused this love for languages? How did this love affect his work? How did this love affect his social life and family life?

Part 3) How important is language in his literature? How might it add to Tolkien's popularity? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Tolkien desired to create a new language.

Part 1) Why did he desire to do this? How was this evident from a young age?

Part 2) What language or languages does he create? How are these languages created? What purpose do these language serve?

Part 3) How does the creation of language lead to Tolkien writing stories? How is language important in Tolkien's stories?

Essay Topic 3

Tolkien was a perfectionist in many ways.

Part 1) Describe Tolkien's creative process. How does this reinforce his perfectionist tendencies? Is he a perfectionist outside of his work? Why or why not?

Part 2) How did he perfectionist behavior affect others, such as his family, friends, and publishers?

Part 3) How did his desire for perfection add challenges to the process of creating and publishing his work? How did it also benefit him in the long run? Should he have been such a perfectionist? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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